NFL legend Adrian Peterson makes shock career switch... weeks after leaving poker rivals bloodied in wild fight

Daily Mail​

11-07-2025

NFL legend Adrian Peterson is reportedly set to step inside the boxing and take on a poker rival who he was seen fighting in a viral clip last month.
Peterson, 40, made headlines back in June after being caught on camera getting into a fist fight during a poker game in Houston, Texas.
The video, obtained by TMZ, showed 40-year-old Peterson squaring up with a fellow poker player over a hand at the JokerStars social club back on May 27.
Peterson later said that he and a friend were involved in a disagreement while at a table. Eventually, 'one thing led to another' and the pair raised their fists at each other.
Despite already clashing with his poker rival, it seems as though the scores are not settled yet and, according to TMZ, Peterson has signed a contract to fight his adversary inside the boxing ring with Celebrity Boxing.
The outlet claim that Peterson's rival - Joe 'Baby Joe' Castaneda - has also put pen to paper on the deal and that a sanctioned bout between the two is on the way.
There is no official fight date or location scheduled yet, however, Celebrity Boxing chief Damon Feldman has insisted that he's working to get that sorted.
The outlet claim that Peterson reassured that he would be taking the bout seriously, after previously clashing with his poker foe back in May.
The video which went viral last month showed Peterson and his buddy throwing punches for several seconds, despite one person trying to separate them.
The former running back ate a number of punches to the face at the beginning of the scrap, but he eventually got back at his counterpart with some haymakers.
TMZ says that bloody wounds were visible on the faces of both people involved. However, Peterson claims his injury came from falling into a chair rather than a punch.
While alcohol was involved, Peterson told the outlet that wasn't the only reason the situation escalated.
'Me and the guy, we're cool,' Peterson said. 'We've known each other. It was literally like a brother situation. We agreed to disagree, we had our words, and we threw blows -- and that was it.'
Peterson added: 'I felt really bad. It's a situation where I kind of regret it.'
The outlet says that police were not called and are not investigating. The club did not punish either person involved.
This is not the first time that Peterson has gotten violent with someone else - having previously been charged win the cases of two domestic disputes.
In 2014, Peterson pled no contest to a misdemeanor charge of recklessly assaulting his son after using a tree branch - known as a 'switch' to beat him on his back, buttocks, genitals, ankles, and legs as a punishment. Peterson was punished in a similar manner in his own childhood.
The running back was put on probation and fined $4,000 while avoiding a jail sentence. The NFL placed him on unpaid suspension until spring 2015.
In February 2022, he was arrested by the LAPD for a domestic violence incident with his wife on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston. After posting bond, his wife said that he did not put his hands on her - rather they had a verbal argument. The charges were dropped.
Two months ago, Peterson was arrested for fourth-degree DWI. He was traveling 83mph in a 55mph zone with a blood-alcohol content of .14.
Peterson is likely bound for the Hall-of-Fame after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and MVP in his career.
In addition to the Vikings, he played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks.
He holds the record for most rushing yards in an NFL game with 296.